Chelsea defender Gary Cahill believes that he and his teammates are different "mentally" this season as they continue their unbeaten run in the Premier League.

Jose Mourinho's side currently have a six-point lead at the top of the league table and are yet to suffer defeat in any competitions.

On Saturday, the Blues failed to pick up a win against Sunderland, but Cahill has taken positives from the goalless draw at the Stadium of Light.

"I think we are a different side to last year, not just personnel, but mentally I think we are different," FIFA.com quotes Cahill as saying. "They made it a scrap, but we matched that and managed to play our football as well.

"When teams sit back and get back in that shape, it's very tough. We saw that last year and this was no different. But in these sorts of games, if you don't get the breakthrough, it's important we don't lose the game, and it's a point away from home."

Chelsea's next game is at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.